Pretty in Pink!
Back in December last year I asked indie designer Hanna Maciejewska if she's be interested in doing a design using Libby Summers Fine Aran for Tangled Yarn. She agreed on the condition that it was in "Sunset Sky", apparently it's her seven year old daughters favourite colour!
The pattern she came up with was Little (Splash of) Petrichor.
Hanna was working on a cardigan for herself at the time using the stitch pattern from a previous design; Get the Picture and saw this as the ideal opportunity to downsize her sweater design whilst incorporating changes to the adult pattern that would be better suited to a child's version and so Little (Splash of) Petrichor was born!
Like the adult version; Petrichor this cardigan is knit from top down and is seamless; always music to my ears! There is no waist shaping, but additional front neckline shaping so that the front lapels overlap more, extra increases and decreases in the back to give more of an A-line shape. Both versions have secret pockets in the hem.
The pattern gives instructions for six sizes, from age two through to age 12.
Fine Aran is a perfect match for this design. A blend of 50% Alpaca and 50% Peruvian Highland Wool, it comes in 50g balls (115yds / 105m) which are ready to knit with although we do now stock a number of shades on 500g cones (1150yds / 1050m). A good alternative to Libby Summers Fine Aran is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, you need to achieve a gauge of 21 stitches over 28 rows in stocking stitch on 4mm knitting needles.
| Age 2 | Age 4 | Age 6 | Age 8 | Age 10 | Age 12 | |
| Size, chest circumference | 54cm | 58cm | 64cm | 68cm | 72cm | 76cm |
| Yardage | 600yds | 650yds | 700yds | 760yds | 820yds | 890yds |
| 549m | 595m | 640m | 695m | 750m | 814m | |
| Fine Aran (50g / 105m) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Cashmerino Aran (50g / 90m) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
We love the colour Hanna has used, Sunset Sky but think it would also be great knitted up in Norfolk Lavender for a more muted look! Or perhaps Driftwood or Sea Spray for the adult version.
How about knitting Petrichor for yourself?
The adult version has extra waist shaping on the back but just like Little (Splash of) Petrichor, Petrichor is a seamless top down knit. Knit in a worsted or aran yarn such as Malabrigo Rios or Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, which are both easy to care for yarns as they can be machine washed on a low temperature.
The pattern gives a good range of sizes from 32" up to 48".
Below is a guide to how much yarn you'll need, remember though that the amount of yarn you'll need will depend on your own gauge so swatching is essential.
| XS | S | M | M1 | L | XL | 2X | |
| Size | 32" | 34" | 36" | 38" | 40" | 44" | 48" |
| Yardage | 1150 yds | 1250 yds | 1360 yds | 1480 yds | 1730 yds | 1730 yds | 1860 yds |
| 1052m | 1143m | 1244m | 1353m | 1463m | 1582m | 1700m | |
| Rios (100g / 210yds) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Merino Worsted (100g / 210yds) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Cashmerino Aran (50g / 90m) | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
| Fine Aran (50g / 105m) | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
Petrichor should be worn with zero to a small amount of ease.
I love these versions of Petrichor by Hanna's test knitters on Ravelry
Above Wioletta has used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in shade 205, Denim. I love Wioletta's photographs too, there are more on her blog; All Shades of Blue. Below left, Heli has knitted her cardigan in Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Emerald. Whilst Jessica (right) has knitted her Petrichor in Malabrigo Rios, Purpuras.
I think you'll find this cardigan soon becomes a staple part of your wardrobe. I definitely have plans to be casting one on very soon!
About the Author
Rachel Owen is the owner of Tangled Yarn. As a mother to two teenagers life is never dull! When she's not knitting can be found wandering the Pennines with her faithful cocker spaniel Bailee. Her favourite colour is blue or is it green? And she could sink a ship with the amount of tea she drinks!